Parker meets with national clergy about pastor subpoenas

Amid continued fallout from the city's subpoena of certain pastors earlier this month, Mayor Annise Parker met with seven clergy from across the country Tuesday, listening to their concerns about religious liberties but not indicating whether she would heed demands to withdraw the subpoenas altogether.

The clergy came to urge Parker to pull down the subpoenas the city sent to five local pastors who led opposition to Houston's equal rights ordinance, now in limbo as conservative opponents take the city to court. Parker's administration has withdrawn its request for some of the sermons, and the clergy said Tuesday she seemed to be considering whether to remove the subpoenas altogether.

"She, obviously, took our visit seriously," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council. "Whether we've changed her mind or not, only God knows - and maybe soon her attorneys will know."

The mayor did not respond to requests for comment, but spokeswoman Janice Evans, who was present at the meeting, described it as "productive."

"The mayor continues to think about all that was discussed," Evans said.

The subpoenas have proved a tense issue for Parker, setting off a national firestorm among Christian conservative groups. When news of the subpoenas first surfaced, Parker and City Attorney David Feldman said they did not know about the request for sermons and characterized the subpoena as "overly broad."

The original subpoena requested "all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession."

Ordinance on hold

The subpoena's new wording does not include "sermons" specifically, but does not explicitly preclude them from being produced as part of presentations the pastors may have given. The administration has continued to stand by the general principle of subpoenaing the pastors, who have played a key and public role in opposing the ordinance.

The pastors and other critics largely take issue with the rights the law extends to gay and transgender residents. The Houston City Council passed the ordinance last May, banning discrimination by businesses that serve the public, private employers, in housing and in city employment and city contracting. Religious institutions are exempt.

Opponents sued the city this summer after the city announced that they had not gathered enough valid signatures to force a repeal referendum.

The city has suspended enforcement of the ordinance until the opponents' lawsuit is resolved.

The clergy, who flew in from Utah and Washington, D.C., among other places, did not talk specifically about the equal rights ordinance on Tuesday, Evans said. Instead, their main aim was to persuade Parker to drop the subpoenas, contending that all communication between pastors and their congregations is sacred.

Houston's image cited

"These are not political issues," said Keith Tucci, pastor of Living Hope Church in Whitney, Pa. "These are issues that are relevant to the preaching of the Gospel."

The meeting was "cordial" and Parker seemed willing to entertain the clergy's position on the subpoenas, Schenck said. The pastor warned of a growing tide of unease across the country if the city's subpoenas remain in force.

"Unless she withdraws the subpoenas I'm afraid there is an unstoppable tsunami of a movement beginning around the country," Schenck said. "And it doesn't reflect well on Houston, which otherwise ought to be a shining star among cities. But right now in the religious community I'm afraid it's taken a few hits."

Critics of the subpoenas are planning a large rally at Houston's Grace Community Church on Sunday, featuring conservative former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and local pastors.